Ramadan is the holy month which commemorates the revelation of the Holy Quran and is significant for all Muslims. During this month, Muslims abstain from all food and drink from dawn to dusk, followed by Iftar (breaking the fast). In Dubai, Ramadan holds special significance and the annual event is marked by a host of Ramadan-related events held during this period. Ramadan influences can be seen in all spheres of life in Dubai – social, business, cultural and entertainment, from alteration in working hours to observance of certain guidelines for Muslims and Non-Muslims. Most cafes and restaurants are closed during the day. The holy month of Ramadan ends with Eid celebrations, which are normally spent with family and friends.

Guide for non-Muslims

It is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public and a conservative dress code must be maintained to respect the spirit of the holy month.

It is appropriate to greet Muslims during Ramadan by saying 'Ramadan Kareem' or 'Ramadan Mubarak'.

You should try and attend a meal to break the fast called 'Iftar'. Timings for Iftar are announced everyday in the newspaper and television and change by about 1 minute every day. The calendar usually shows the breaking of fast with the Maghrib prayer.

Live music is banned and you should avoid noisy entertainment at home or office.

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched ‘The UAE Initiative for Connection with Orphans and Minors’, to fulfill needs of these segments at multiple levels through a group of alternatives for individuals and families interested in taking part in the effort.

The initiative provides three alternatives for young Emiratis willing to contribute towards caring for orphans and minors. These include fraternal connections to provide guidance and good advice, taking care of orphaned and minor students for a certain number of class hours, and setting up common interest groups to engage orphans and minors in activities like swimming and biking.

​"Bawwabat Eamarat Al Khair" (Emirates Charity Gate) is a pioneering project in the country and region in the field of charitable work. It is the first electronic system in the Middle East to connect charitable societies and establishments. It connects all charitable entities in Dubai under the supervision of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Work Department (IACAD).The portal provides an integrated system and employs recent technology to help charitable entities to work more proficiently through automatizing all interior and finance operations in a way that benefits donators, donation channels, and beneficiaries and enables ​IACAD at the same time to supervise charitable entities, facilitate licensing them, unify their database, and provides them with recent technology and train them on it.

The Emirates Red Crescent launched on its website the "Sponsors' Portal", which enables sponsors to be aware of the conditions of the sponsored orphans as well as the number of poor families, students and the disabled. Sponsors will also be able to see the charitable projects that they can participate in as well as the Emirates Red Crescent's guide of projects and how to donate.

The Zakat Fund provides many services including “Fatawa” and “Pay your Zakat online” within the IVR system. Dubai International Holy Quran Award is carrying on its activities through a dedicated satellite channel concurrently with Dubai Smart Government's new application on iPhones and iPads for tracking the Award's news and activities.